


w 






1M 



3^3 



3503 
963 



21 
py 1 



If 
If 
Iff 

i Catherine T Bryce 



%. 



CHARM 



^y 



n^i^ 



••t??' 



^••Sr 






THE CHARM 



By 
Catherine T. Bryee 

Professor of Elementary Education 
Yale University 




Boston 
The Atlantic Monthly Press 



^o^ 






Copyright, 1921, by 
The Atlantic Monthly Press, Inc. 



C1A628394 



m 2^^ ^ 



i^jm «fe. ft 



COSTUMES 

The Fairy Queen is dressed in a soft white gown. It 
may be made of any inexpensive material, as cheesecloth. 
Gilt stars may furnish trimming. Her crown and star- 
tipped sceptre are gilt. 

Puck is dressed as a fairy jester, in bright colors, cap 
and bells. 

When they first appear, the Sweet-Speech Sisters 
are draped in dismal gray. These gray garments may be 
made Hke sacks, covering the body from head to foot, 
with holes cut for the eyes. They must be made to slip 
off easily. No sleeves are needed. Sombre ugliness is 
the suggestion they must convey. Under these hateful 
robes the Sweet-Speech Sisters wear pretty fairy 
frocks. 

The Flower Fairies are dressed in white and carry 
hoops or garlands of flowers. 

The Light Fairies are dressed in soft, pretty colors 
— rainbow colors subdued — and carry wands. If possi- 
ble, a tiny electric bulb should be placed at the end of 
each wand. 

Tom is dressed like a real schoolboy, and should be 
about eight or nine years old. 



STAGE SETTING 

Scenery or branches of trees should be arranged to 
suggest a '^moonlight circle screen '' for the fairy gather- 
ing. A strong electric light, covered by a large yellow 
globe, — the moon, — hangs above. A skilKul use of the 
spothght will enhance the fairy effect of the scene. 

VhACW, The Fairy Dell 
Time: Midsummer Eve 



CHARACTERS 

Fairy Queen Puck 

Sweet-Speech Sisters Flower Fairies 

Fairy Am-Not Light Fairies 

Fairy Is-Not Tom, a Human Child 
Fairy Are-Not 



THE CHARM 

The Fairy Queen is seated at one side, on a high throne. 
She is surrounded by the Flower and Light Fairies, 
who flit about as if exchanging greetings. The smiling 
faces, the dainty gowns, the bright flowers, the gay music 
played by an orchestra off-stage, all suggest joyous festivity , 

The Queen is restless, glancing frequently at the moon, 
then toward the back of the stage, as if expecting somebody, 
A clear voice is heard singing off-stage. The Queen settles 
back satisfled. Enters Puck, singing and dancing. 

Puck 

Over hill, over dale, 
Thorough bush, thorough brier, 
Over park, over pale. 
Thorough flood, thorough fire, 
I do wander everjrwhere. 
Swifter than the moon^s sphere; 
And I serve the fairy Queen, 
To dew her orbs upon the green. 
The cowslips tall her pensioners be; 
In their gold coats spots you see; 
Those be rubies, fairy favors. 
In those freckles Hve their savors; 
I must go seek some dew-drops here. 
And hang a pearl in every cowsHp's ear. 

As Puck advances toward the Queen, he slyly teases 
the fairies he passes on the way. He flnishes his 
song standing before the Queen, and bows low be- 
fore her. 

5 



6 THE CHARM 

Puck. Fairest Queen, I feared I would be late. If you 
but knew what kept me — 

Queen (interrupting). You are late: see how high the 
moon is. We will waste no more time hstening to your 
excuses. ^ 

Motions to a low stool or hassock at the foot of her 
throne. Puck obeys the gesture and seats himself. 
Queen (to other fairies). Once more the moon of mid- 
summer shines within our fairy dell. By her hght we 
may dance and frohc till the first cock crows. All too 
short this night of elfin joy. Let there be no further de- 
lay. On with the festivities; and first we will hsten to 
some music from our Sweet-Speech Sisters. 

All look toward the stage entrance j with happy expecta- 
tion on each face. The music, which up to this time 
has been low and soft and sweet, changes to dismal, 
wailing, discordant measures, while the three Speech 
Sisters, clad in their gray ifobes, shuffle to the 
centre of the stage. The other fairies draw aside 
with looks of surprise, fear, and aversion. 
Speech Sisters (chanting in hoarse disagreeable voices 
of changing pitch, like frogs croaking). Ain't! Ain't! 
Ain't! Ain't! 

The fairies cover their ears and look horrified. 
Queen (indignantly). What does this mean? I called 
for the Sweet-Speech Sisters, — they who always charm 
us with their beauty and melodious voices, — and 
these uncouth figures with harsh voices come in their 
stead! 



THE CHARM 7 

While the Queen speaks. Puck hovers around the 
Sisters, peering into the eyeholes of their robes. 

Puck. Fairest lady, these are indeed the Speech Sis- 
ters, thus sadly changed. 

Queen (in anger). And who dared change three of my 
lovehest fays into these ugly creatures? Be he the might- 
iest magician in the world, he shall feel my displeasure! 

Fairy Am-Not (in a high shrill voice). No magician! 

Fairy Is-Not (in a disagreeable nasal voice). A boy! 

Fairy Are-Not (in a harsh guttural voice). A school- 
boy! 

Puck (jumping about in excitement). I have it, most 
lovely queen! I know who cast this spell on our fair 
sisters! I am sure he is the very boy who nearly caused 
me to be late at our froHc. 

Queen (impatiently). Hasten thy speech. We all wait. 

Puck. In my wanderings this day, I came to a school- 
house. Creeping up, I peered through a window. There 
was no one in the room but the teacher and one boy. 
The teacher was speaking: "I have told you many, 
many times never to say ainH. (At the word ain't the 
Speech Sisters sway and croak ^^AinH! AinH! '') I have 
told you to say am not, or is not, or are notJ^ (As the 
words am not, is not, and are not are spoken, the Speech 
Sisters in turn repeat each word clearly and sweetly.) 
The boy answered, ^^ What 's the difference? They mean 
the same.'' — ^^O Tom," said the teacher, '^ can't you 
understand the difference? Every time you say ainH, 
you are turning fair speech into an unlovely thing." 



8 THE CHARM 

Whenever Puck repeats the words of the teacher or 
Tom, he dramatizes the parts, speaking and acting 
like them. 

Speech Sisters {moaning hoarsely). Fair speech 
turned into unlovely things. 

Queen. Yes, and Fair Fairies turned into unlovely 
things! 

Puck. This is the spell the boy, Tom, cast on our fair 
sisters: by caUing them ain't in place of their true names, 
he turned them into the forms they now bear. 

All the Fairies {moaning and sighing), Alas, our 
fair sisters! Oh, the wicked, wicked boy! 

Queen. Puck, do you know where this boy is to be 
found? 

Puck. Yes. The teacher left him in the schoolhouse 
to study. She promised to return in haK an hour to dis- 
miss him. But I thought he needed more than half-an- 
hour's punishment, so, when I saw the teacher returning, 
I changed myself into the image of Tom, and met her at 
the door. I said, ^*Dear teacher, after this I will always 
say, am not, is not, and are not J' The teacher smiled and 
said, "Oh, I am so glad, Tom.'' Then she locked the 
door, — with the real Tom inside, — and went home. 
Ho! ho! ho! Was n't that a good trick to play on the 
wicked boy who cast a spell on our sweet sisters? 

All THE Fairies. Ha! ha! ha! A merry jest! 

Queen. And where is the boy now? 

Puck. Still in the lonely dark schoolroom. I watched 
him as he tried to escape. I laughed at him and mocked 



THE CHARM 9 

him wlien he cried out in fear of the darkness. I left him 
only when he sank to sleep. 

Queen. Go, and bring the boy Tom to me. 

Puce: hows and dances away. 
Queen (to Speech Sistees). Sit ye there until Puck 
returns. 

She waves them to a place on the farther side of the 
stage from the throne. They sit huddled on log or 
low bench — a marked contrast to the graceful 
Flower and Light Fairies. 
Queen. On with our revels. 

The Flower Fairies dance. The Light Fairies 
divide into two groups: one stands behind the un- 
couth figures of the Speech Sisters, the other be- 
hind the Fairy Queen. From time to time, they 
and the Queen show appreciation and approval 
of the dance. 
Enter Puck leading Tom. — They stand near the 
Speech Sisters until the dance of the Flower 
Fairies is ended. During this time, Tom casts 
many glances of admiration and pleasure toward 
the Fairy Queen and the fairies^ and some looks 
of loathing toward the Speech Sisters. He tries 
repeatedly to move farther away from them; but 
Puck manages to push him ever closer and closer to 
them. The dance ends, the fairies forming in grace- 
ful groups, all watching Tom as Puck leads him to 
the Queen. 
Puck. Most gracious Queen, may I present to you 



10 THE CHARM 

Tom, a boy whom I found asleep in a dark lonely school- 
house. 

Queen (smiling at Tom). You are welcome, Tom. I 
think you will find our Fairy Dell brighter than the dark 
schoolhouse, and my fairies more lovely to look upon 
than the shadows of empty desks. 

Tom. Indeed, yes! Oh, I did not know a schoolroom 
could be so dark and so lonely; but it ain^t dark here. I 
never saw a sight so beautiful as this. 

Fairy Is-Not makes a gesture of despair and moans 
aloud. The Sisters weep and moan in sympathy. 
Queen. Then be seated, Tom, and see some more of 
our merrymaking. 

She motions to Puck, who places the stool near the 
Queen's throne^ but directly across the stage from 
the Speech Sisters. During the dance that follows, 
Tom frequently tries to move his stool so that the 
dancing fairies may serve as a screen; but Puck 
always pushes the stool back^ so that Tom's pleasure 
is marred by the sight of the gray figures ever before 
him. 
Queen. Light Fairies, are you ready for your dance? 
The Light Fairies come to the centre of the stage. 
The Flower Fairies group themselves at the rear, 
with flower-hoops held to make a pleasing back- 
ground. — If Light Fairies use wands with light- 
ed bulbs, the stage should be darkened. Only the 
moonlight should glow above, and a spotlight be 
thrown on the group about the Queen's seat, the 



THE CHARM 11 

Queen, Tom, and Puck. — As they dancer the 
Light Fairies frequently flash their lights — or 
'point their wands — toward the Speech Sisters. 
Whenever they do this, Tom shudders and tries to 
change his position. The dance ends and the Light 
Fairies yoin the Flower Fairies, /ormmgf charm- 
ing groups J leaving a clear space between the throne 
group and the Speech Sisters. 
Queen. Well, Tom, how are you enjoying our frolic? 
Tom. Oh, very, very much; but — but — 
Queen. But what? 

Tom. Who are those gray creatures over there? Why 
are they here? They ain't fairies. They are too ugly! 
Fairy Are-Not weeps. The Sisters moan in sym- 
pathy. 
Queen. Ah, Tom, theirs is a sad story. They are 
three of my lovehest fairies. But a spell has been cast 
on them that changed them into the forms they now 
wear. 

Tom (springing indignantly to his feet) . Oh, the big 
coward! I wish I were a knight, and I'd kill the giant 
that did it. There ain't anything that I would not do to 
help them. 

At the word ain't the Speech Sisters rock and moan. 

The other fairies cover their ears. — Puck tovx^hes 

Tom's lips. Tom gazes about him in wonder. 

Tom. Why — what's the matter? 

Queen. You, Tom; you spoke the word that works 

the spell on my unhappy fairies. No giant has power to 



12 THE CHARM 

change them. But you, a schoolboy, have transformed 
them by a word. 

Tom. O Fairy Queen, there must be some mistake! I 
could n't change lovely fairies into such ugly creatures 
by a word, because I don't know any word that could 
do it. I ain't the boy that did it. 

Fairy Am-Not weeps aloud: her Sisters groan. 

Queen. Yes, you are the boy. Their true names are 
Am-Not and Are-Not. You call them ainHy and by the 
use of that uncouth word, you change them to these un- 
couth forms. 

Tom. Well — Say — Am I dreaming? (Looking 
around, bewildered,) Why I never behoved there are 
fairies, and now — 

Queen. And now you are seeing them. Ah, yes, Tom, 
there are fairies. Fairy is but another name for beauty; 
and, alas! it is as easy to destroy a fairy as to destroy 
beauty. He who tramples on a beautiful flower tramples 
on a lovely fairy; he who kills a joyous bird kills a joy- 
bearing fairy; he who spoils a sweet song injures a mel- 
ody fairy; he who, by the use of slang, careless articula- 
tion, or incorrect usage mars fair speech, deforms my 
Sweet-Speech fairies. Ah, yes, Tom, he who in any way 
destroys a beautiful thing, and leaves an unlovely one 
in its stead, changes a radiant fairy into an imsightly 
form. 

Tom. Well, I am sorry. Truly, there ain't — is n't — 
anything I would n't do to change them back. 

Queen. I believe you, Tom, and I will teach you a 



THE CHARM 13 

charm that will remove the evil spell. Touch each of the 
Sweet-Speech Sisters three times — 
Tom (with repugnance). Must I truly touch them? 
Queen (coldly) . No ; you may leave them as they are. 
I thought you meant it when you said there is n't any- 
thing you would not do to remove the spell. You said 
you wished you were a knight to punish the wicked giant 
who, you thought, had done this cruel deed. Am I to be- 
lieve that you are a boy too cowardly to undo the wrong 
you, yourseK, have done? 

Tom. Oh, no! no! Don't say that. I will do anything, 
anjrbhing. (Rushes toward Sisters.) 

Queen. Hold! Come here, Tom. You do not yet 
know the full charm. 

Tom returns and stands by Queen's throne. 
Queen. Touch each Sister three times on her right 
shoulder, saying her name clearly and distinctly as you 
touch her. The Sisters will then rise and follow you to 
the centre of the dell. Leave them there and return to 
me. 

Tom. (He walks over to the Sisters, and touches Am- 
NoT, saying clearly and distinctly) Am-Not, Am-Not, 
Am-Not. 

Am-Not shuffles to her feet and stands beside Tom. 
In Kke manner he touches Is-Not and Are-Not, 
repeating their names clearly and distinctly. They, 
too, rise and stand beside him. Tom leads, and 
they follow him to the centre of the stage. Puck 
capers around them. The other fairies show by 



14 THE CHARM 

their faces and gestures their interest in, and antici- 
pation of good from, Tom's actions. They clear the 
way for Tom and the Speech Sisters as they ad- 
vance to the centre, forming an irregular semicir- 
cular grouping toward rear of stage. 
When he has guided the Sisters to the centre of the 
stage, Tom bows to them, and, accompanied by 
Puck, returns to the Queen. 
Queen. You have done your part well, Tom. Stand 
here and watch the further working of the charm. {To 
Fairies) Now, Fairies of Light and Sweetness, to you is 
entrusted that part of the charm that no mortal may 
know. Draw about the Sweet-Speech Sisters the Magic 
Threefold Fairy Ring. 

Three rings are formed around the Sisters in the 
centre of the stage, the object being the making of a 
screen for them. During the ring-dance that 
follows, the Speech Sisters remove the ugly gray 
sacks that cover them. 
When the three rings are formed, Puck dances to the 
front-centre of stage and directs the fairies. 

Puck 

The inner ring — the ring of truth — 

Will move from east to west. 

The middle ring — the ring of grace — 

Will move from west to east. 

The outer ring — the ring of beauty — 

Will move from east to west. 

As we dance, let us sing. 



THE GHARM 15 

To simple dance-steps y the rings move as directed 
by Puck. 

Puck and Fairies (singing) 

(Tune : " Go round and round the valley '* — Old ring-game) 

Dance round and round our sisters, 
Dance round and round om* sisters, 
Dance round and round our sisters, 
And set them free to-day! 

An evil spell has bound them, 

An evil spell has bound them. 

An evil spell has bound them, 

But they 11 be free to-day! 

For Tom has come to save them. 
For Tom has come to save them. 
For Tom has come to save them, 
And set them free to-day! 

Dance round and round our sisters, 
Dance round and round our sisters. 
Dance round and round our sisters, 
And set them free to-day. 

During the dance, Puck circles the fairy rings. This 
gives him an opportunity to he in the rear and out of 
sight when the Sisters remove the gray sacks. 
These may be passed through the rings to Puck, 
who conceals them in any convenient place, in an 
unobtrusive ivay. When the sacks are disposed of, 
Puck dances again to the front of the stage, and, at 
the conclusion of the song, raises his belled wand. 
The Fairies stand, still in the ring. 



16 THE CHARM 

Queen. Come forth, Sweet-Speech Sisters. 
At her words the rings break at the front, and out 
dance the three Sisters — now dressed as radiant 
fairies. They bow low to the Queen, then sing. 

Speech Sisters 
(Tune: ''Three Little Maids from School" — TAe Mikado) 

Three little fays of speech are we , 
Merry as merry as merry can be, 
For Tom at last has set us free; 
Three merry fays are we i 

Am-Not. I am the fairy that's named Am-Not, 
Is-NoT. I am the fairy that's named Is-Not. 
Are-Not. I am the fairy that's named Are-Nat 
All. Three fays of speech are we! 

Am-Not. Sometimes humans call us AinH! 
Is-NoT {sadly). Oh, it's enough to make one faint! 
Are-Not {angrily). No, it's enough to provoke a saint! 
All. Then doleful fays are we! 

All. But — now we 're merry as merry can be 
As everyone may plainly see, 
For Tom at last has set us free; 
Three grateful fays are we! 

Tom. Oh, how beautiful you are! Oh I am glad, glad, 
so glad you're free! To think that you could look so 
ugly when it is not your fault! 

Fairy Is-Not {dancing forward and standing beside 
Tom). Here I am, Tom. I shall always come when you 
call me by my real name — Is-Not. 



THE CHARM 17 

Tom. Oh, lovely Fairy, stay with me always. You are 
not angry with me now I know. 

Faiby Are-Not (skipping gayly to Tom). Ha, ha, 
Tom! Here I am. You said Are-Not ^ and so I came. 

Tom (taking each sister hy a hand). You came, and I 
am not going to let you go again. 

Fairy Am-Not (dancing forward and taking Sisters' 
hands J thus facing Tom) . Oh, Tom, you called me too, 
when you said Am-Not. Vm. so glad, for I want to stay 
with my sisters and you! 

FvcKandthe other fairies form aring around Tom and 
the Sweet-Speech Sisters, singing, " The Fair- 
ies in the Dell,^^ to the tune ^^The Farmer in the 
DellJ^ During the singing, the fairies advance to- 
ward Tom and the Sisters, then retreat, — for- 
ward and backward, — using short skipping steps. 

Puck and the Fairies 

The fairies in the dell, the fairies in the dell, 
Heigh-0, my dearie O, the fairies in the dell. 

The Fairies all thank Tom, the Fairies all thank Tom, 
Heigh-0, my dearie, O, the Fairies all thank Tom. 

He set our Sisters free, he set our Sisters free, 
Heigh-0, my dearie, O, Tom set our Sisters free! 

As they end the song, all bow low to Tom. 

Tom. Oh, don't thank me. It is enough that you for- 
give me for the wicked spell I worked on your beautiful 

sisters. 



18 THE CHARM 

Queen (advancing to Tom and taking his hand). But 
we do thank you, dear Tom, for when you worked the 
spell, you did not know that your careless words were 
changing beings of beauty to ugly creatures. As soon as 
you did know, you worked a charm to bring back beauty 
and destroy ughness. 

Tom. dear Queen, I thank you. I shall always re- 
member your words, and in all that I do, and in all that 
I say, I will try to make something beautiful. 

(Puck and the Fairies, closing in at rear and sides 
of central group in attractive tableau j sing, ^^Now 
as you've promised/' to the tune of ^'Oats, Peas, 
Beans, and Barley GrowsJ' 

Speech Sisters 

Now as you Ve promised, you must obey, 
You must give heed to all you say, 
Use Fair Speech in work and play, 
And we'll be bonny and glad and gay. 

Puck and Fairies repeat the song — Cock crows in 
distance* 

Curtain 



'3 s 3?"^^ 

V 



ill 



^^LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

015 799 963 




